Accounting mechanism.



110.847.672.V PATBNTED MAR. 19, 41907.

ACCOUNTING MBGHANISM.

APPLIOATIOI FILED APR. 14, 1.905.

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Ell Il" m uuLLms ce Nrs f ll4 @www 110.347.672. PATENTED MAR. 19, 19o?.

R. 1I. LITTLE.

ACCOUNTING MEcHA'NIsM. APPLIUATIOI FILED APB. 14, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' @www 10.847,672. PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

y R. H. LITTLE.

ACCOUNTING MEoHAN-ISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ROBERT ii. LITTLE, or CHICAGO; ILLINOIS.

ACCOUNTING-MECHANISM.

Specification `of Letters Patent.

Patented March' 19, 1907.

animan me@ Aprii i4, i905. serai No. 255.625.

To LLI/Z wir/ont [it 7mm cmtcern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. LITTLE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in AccountinlT h'lechanism, of

, whichthe following is a ful clear., concise,

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specificatibn.

My invention relates to perforating mechanisms-.such, for. example, as are adapted to perforate sales-checks or other paper record to form figures and characters indicating -iinancial transactions such as occur in retail stores, restaurants, &c.

It has for one of itsobjects the provision improved selecting mechanism governing` the operativencss of punches.

The invention has for another object the provision ol totalizing mechanism and niechanismbetween the same and the punchoperating mechanism whereby said totalizing mechanism may be operated in correspondence with the integer or digit that it i perforated. 1n order to accomplish this result,. .l provide an interrelation between the selecting mechanism and the mechanism of the coniinon counter corresponding to the selecting mechanism, whereby l the common counter is permitted to operate and does operate to cause the addition to its-record of the digit perforated. f By the provision of this.

apparatus the business may readily be totalizejd.

. The device of my invention preferably includesone row of keys or levers or their equivalents .corresponding to the transactions in cents or units, another row of keys' corresponding ,to dimes or tens, and another ro'w of keys corresponding to dollars or hundreds, there being ten'keys numbered 1, 51(2)!) :l2-U i (4,2? :15,71 tr). m7,!! 8,27 H937 and "0 in each row. There are preferably also two'rows of keys similarly numbered, so

that the ,number of theA clerk taking .part in the financial transaction may be perforated in the'saine sales-check. Flachrow of keys corresponding to the dollars, dimes, and cents has a totalizing device or adding device associated therewith,"the adding device or lcommon counter of each. row being preferably mechanicall distinct from the adding devices of the ad1acentrows It is not necessary to provide any adding device for those rows of keys that are employed to'l designatel the clerks. The keys may operatein any suitable way, but are preferably confined to rectilineal vertical travel, -beingmamially y moved in one direction to set the punch-actuating mechanism, whereafter a lever mech- Aanisni common to all the keys of the apparatus is moved to effect the reciprocation of the punches to secure the desired perforation of the paper. The punches are preferably all assembled over perforateddies, the selecting vmechanism serving to engage the operating 'mechanism with certain of the punches to the exclusion of others, -whereby theV desired characters are perforated in the paper. The punch-operating mechanism preferably resides in a plurality of superposed plates, that may be made very thin and which are provided with slots or openings placed over the punches and which normally so register as to permit the punches to ass all the way through the plates when ref? afforded between the plates and punches. By selectinginechanisminterposed betweenthese plates and the keys these plates may be longitudinally shifted, so that the clear passage for some of the punches of the group corative motion is y responding -to a row of keys is'obstructed,

whereby these punches whose passage is thus obstructed are forced to perforate thepaper, the slots in the different plates being of different sizes suited to the characters to .be formed. VEach selecting device coacts vwith the commoncounter-actuating mechanism in a'way to vary the degree or extent of operation of said mechanism, so "that the common counter is forced to record and have 'added to its record a sum equal to the digit corresponding .to the actuated key.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred embodiment thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a frontA elevation of an account- Fig. 6 is an enh rgedview of a portion of the apparatus as it appears in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side view of some of the mechanism, the framework and certain parts of the mechan- ICO ism being shown in sectional elevation. Fig.

7% is a perspective view of theresetting device entering into my construction. Fig. 7'b indicates a rigidly supported stationary IIO the punch and die arrangement and certain there are rows or sets of keys. 35

associate parts. Fig. 12 is a detail view, partially in section `and partially in full elevation, showing t'he'punch-operating plates of yone set and some of the selecting-levers cooperating withsaid plates t'o place the same in position to operate the punches that are to be selectedfor perforating the paper.v

.Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

.The entire apparatus, excepting the projecting operating-keys and the main" operating-lever, maybe contained in a case 10, slotted at 11 ,for the insertion of the check or other slip oflpaper into the interior of the machine, so as to be interposed betweenthe die 12 and the punches 13. Said die is preferably vertically movable, the shelf carrying the samev and -theguide-plate 14 being together preferably vertically movable, guides 15 directing this vertical movement. 'lhere are as many nests or groups of punches 13 as Certain punches of each set may be driven to perfo- `rate the inserted paper with the desired character. As there are in this instancelten keys to a set, provision should bemade for effecting ten combinations of punches to produce ten characters; In Fig. 9 ten plates, (preferably superposed) designated as 16, are illustrated, each ofwhich is adapted to engage punches to form the corresponding characters, the uppermost plate (illustrated.

in Fig. 9) engaging the punches that form fi gure 1,. the next plate engaging the punches that formiig'ure 2, the next those that forin 'ligure f3 the next those that form figure 4,

the next those that form ligure 5, the next lthose that form iigure ."6, the next those that form ligure 7 the next those that form figure 8, the next those that form figure 9, and the next those that form the -character0. .Each of these .plates 16 is provided with slots or perforations 17, the slots 4in each plate diering in extent and position i from those in the other, some of these slots being so alined when the plates are in their normal or inoperative positions as to present clear channels to the needlesor punches 13, as indicated in Fig. 6. .If, however, it should'be desired to perforate any character,

the plate 16 is selected that has its slots or f perforations 17 'so' constructed and arranged as to permit the punches that arernot reuired to formthe desired character to pass t erethrough, the metal of the selected plate eachcarry collars 18, that rest'upon the up perfsurface of the bracket 1.9, to limit the downward movement -of the Ipunches, this bracket 19 being perforated for the passage of the punches. Said punches alsol have collars 20 thereon, engaging the under sideof the plate 21 and disposed in the spacehetween said plate and the guide 14. When said guide and the die 12 are restored to their lower and normal posi-J tions, the plate 21 engages the collars 20 to withdraw the punches from the `recesses 17 and to place saidy punches in their normal p ositions, so that'the plates 16 may be restored to their normal positions ready for the adjustment of the apparatus to Aperforate a new character. By providing the verticall '-movable die' 12 and the associate mec anism herein specified, the operation of the/punches is positive in perforating and in being'withdrawn, whereby all springs may be veliminated. ,y

Before describing the selecting mechanism by which the-plates 16 are adjusted to operate a group of selected punches I will describe the lever mechanism by which the die 12 is moved to carry the paper against fthe punches and to force those 'punches whose movement isimpeded by the selected plate to pass through thepaper. .This lever mech- .anism in` the form shown comprises an intermediately-pivoted arm 22, mounted'upon a shaft 23 'and' engaging a roller 24, mounted upon the guide-plate 25, that carries the die 12, this structure being found on each side of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 10. The operating-lever is in the construction shown a duplicate bell-crank lever,l eachbell-crank lever .having a shorter arm 26 in engagement with a slotted portion"27 of the lever 22,l

while the longer arm 27 extends from the insurrounding these slots engaging Vthose lOO terior of the machine to the exterior, Where it is connected with the operatingrhandle28, the bell-cranklevers being journaled at their elbows upon a shaft 29. When a'plate 16 has beenl selected and. operated, the handle 28 is moved forward.

I will now` describe the selectingmechanism by which one or another of the plates 16 is operated, according to the characte'rthat is 'to'be perforated.

Each plate has an operating selecting lever-such as 30 3l 32, &c.-the plates being provided with'restricted openings 33 34 35,

&c., engaging the lower ends of said levers, said plates also having slots 36 37 38, &c., permitting the passage of said levers therethrough, so that the levers may work only the `plates in connection therewith at 33 34 35, &c. In the form of the apparatus indiby the actuated plate to perforate the papera or check. In Fig. 12 that plate has been shifted which will select and operate a group of punches to cause the perforation of the figure 7 in the paper.

In order that the user of the apparatus may remove his finger from the key immediate y after operating the same, I provide detaining mechanism for holding the key in its de ressed position during the punching operation. This detaining mechanism may reside in a reciprocating bar or rod 42, carrying ins 43, normally engaging notches44 in the eys, but which are placed inengagement with notches 45 when the keys are depressed, said pins riding upon inclined surfaces in beingitransferred from one notch totanother, the bar or rod 42 thereupon being moved longitudinally against the force of a spring 46, that is provided to yieldingly hold said pins in the bottoms of the notches. If a mistake has been made in selecting a key, the rod, 42 may be provided with a button 47 upon the exterior of the machine, which button may be engaged to move said rod against the force of the sping 46, whereafter the spring 48 of the actuated key efl'ects the upward and restoring movement of the key. Assuming that the correct key ih as been depressed, wherebyv the .correct plate 16 is longitudinally moved toward the left with respect to its companions, the handle 28 thereof is moved forwardly to effect the perforation, as hitherto specified, whereafter the actuated key should automatically be restored, to which end I employ a vertical movable reciprocating bar 49, that separably engages a pin 50, carried upon an elongation. of the lever 22, the engagement of said bar 49 with said pin,50 being normally maintained by a spring 51. The spring 5l upon the elevation of the die 12 causes the bar 49 to move downwardly, the dog 52 having previously been disengaged, :is will hereinafter be set forth, whereupon the pin 53, carried by the rod 42 and normally disposed within the recess 54 of a trip 55, rides of out said recess 54 onto the the right to disengage any pi notch 45 from said noto connection with each set or row o 40 4I.

I device, these counting devices being sloping top surface of said trip 55. When the handle 28 is restored to its normal position, the said slopingv top surface of the trip 55 engages said pin and shifts the rod 42 to n 44 engaging a to permit the spring 48 corresponding to the key having said notch to restore said key. rI`he upper end of the bar 49 is provided with a slot 56, through which the pin 53 may Work, this bar 49-being preferably` continued upwardly, so that it may pass through a close-fitting opening in partition 57 to act as a guide. Provision should be made not only for the automatic restoration of the keys, but also for the automatic restoration of the selecting-levers, to which end each selecting-lever has provided therefor a leaf-spring 58, anchored at ,one end to a stationary bar 59, that carries the pivots for said levers. When a key is actuated, it operates a corresponding selectinglever in opposition to the spring 58. When said key is restored, the influence thereof upon the selected lever is removed, whereupon said spring 58 may reverse the movement of the lselected lever, and thereby restore the selected plate 16 to its initial position. The extent to which the springs 58 may move the plates 16 to the right in restoring the same is limited by the left-handA edges of the recesses 60, which engage the stationary stops 61. The mechanism I have hitherto specifically described is em loyedin' f) keys 39 As indicatedin Fig. 4, each set of keys has roo a group of punches. Each set of keys and y each group of punches has a set of plates 16, a set of selecting-levers 30 31 32, a restoringrod 42, a restoring-button 47, a har 49, and parts in immediate association therewith. ',lhere is a die-.plate 12 for each row of punches as they appear in Fig. 7. The handle 28 and the lever mechanism 22 27, Sac., are commonv to all of the sets of keys and the mechanism associated therewith. The die 12,4 as indicated in Fig. 4, is provided 4with a series of perforations 62 and a perforation 63 to enable the formation of a dollar-sign anddecimal-point in the paper, the shelf 19 rigidly carryingpunches coperating with said perforations 62 63, Fig. 7 b, for the purpose stated.

I will now describe my improved adding or counting mechanism.

lCach-of the three right-hand sets of keys as appearing'in Figs. 1 and 2 has a counting preferably mechai'iieally distinguished. l am able to use any suitable counting device found upon the market, such a counting device heing indicated at 64 in Fig. 7. The welllnown Veerler counter will answer Well the purpose. A series of reciprocating lars 65 66 slide within grooves cut in the guides 61,

thrust within the path of a stop 67, provided upon or operated by the barl 49, whereby the extent to which the bar 49 may be moved downwardly by the spring 51 is determined. The counting device 64 has a pinion 68 in engagement with an operating segmental rack 69,that is carried upon an end of a centrallypivoted lever 70, thatengages at its forked end a pin 71, carried upon the bar 49. Ob-

viously the said pinion 68 is rotated a distance corresponding to the downward movement permitted to the bar 49, which movement in turn is regulated by the actuated key 39 or 40, &c., for the actuated key places one or the other of the bars 65 66, &c., in the path of the stop 67, and as these. bars 65 66 are located one above the other in groups of five on each side of the selecting-levers the downward travel of the sto 67 and the bar 49 varies, according to the ey that is actuated, whereby the operation of the counting mechanism 64 also varies, according to the key o erated, whereby an exact summation is ha of the transactions. y vers of each of the three sets of keys on the right are thus associated with ten bars 65 66.

-I provide mechanism whereby the operation of the handle 28 will not cause an operation of the counter 64 unless a key has been operated. To this end a detent 52 is normally in engagement with the bar 49, so that if the handle 28 is operated when a key has not been operated the lever 22 will separate from the bar 49, whereby a wrong operation of the counter will not ensue. To release the detent 52 from the bar 49 when the counter is to be operated, I interposedbetween the detent 52 and the bars 65 66 lever mechanism 7 2, which is engaged by one of the pins 73 upon said bars 65 66 to move said detent out of engagement with the bar 49, so that the latter bar may be pulled downwardly by the spring 51 until it strikes the actuated bar 65 or 66, &c.

As the Veeder counter is a well-known instrument, I have not deemed a detailed description thereof to be essential. As is well known, it contains within its casing a ratchet and pawl or its equivalent in order that a one-way movement of the pinion 68 may only be had.

The zero-key is not operatively associated with any counter, so that when the rAero-key is operated the counter will not be operated.

In operating the machine only one key in each column at a time is depressed.

While I have shownthe invention-as par- The selecting-le- I have explained that the zero-key is not 1 operatively associated with any counter, and inasmuch as the counter does not form a part ,of the invention herein claimed details of its association with any of the keys are notl necessary.

It is Aobvious that changes may readily be y made in the apparatus of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and I ldo not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precise construction shown; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire'to secure by Letters l3atent, the following:

1. A device of the class described, including' ay pluralityk of punches, a plurality of superposed plates, each adapted to select a different group of said punches, to effect operation thereof to form different characters, and mechanism for moving any of said plates longitudinally of the others into co-A operative relation with its group of punches, said plates having non-corresponding slots, whereby each plate is adapted to engage some of the punches and to permit other punches to pass through said slots, whereby the desired selection of punches may be secured. f

2. A device of the class described, including a plurality of punches, a plurality of plates, each adapted -to select a different group of said punches, to effect the operation thereof to form different characters, and mechanism for placing any of said plates in coperative relation with its group of punches, said plates havingnon-corresponding slots, whereby each plate is adapted to engage some of the punches and to permit other punches to pass through said slots, whereby the desired selection of punches may be secured, the plate-operating mechanism including character keys and levers connecting thev keys with the plates, each plate being provided withsuch a key and lever.

` 3. A device of the class described, including a plurality of punches, a plurality of superposed plates, each adapted to select ya different group of said punches, to effect operation thereof to form dierent characters, and mechanism for moving any of said plates longitudinally of the others into coperative relation with its group of punches, sai d plates having non corresponding slots, whereby each plate is adapted to engage some of the punches and to permit other punches to pass through said slots, whereby the desired selection of punches may be secured, the plateoperating mechanism including character keys and levers connecting the keys with the plates, each plate being provided with such a key and lever.

4. A device of the class described includ- Ili ing a I superposed plates each adapted to select a diferent group of said punches to effect operation thereof to lform different characters, and mechanism for moving any of said plates in substantially lparallel planes into cooperative relation With its group of punches.

5. A device ofV the class described including a plurality of punches, a plurality of superposed plates each adapted to select a dii'erent group of said punches to' effect operation thereoi to form different characters,`

and mechanism for moving any of said plates 'plurality of punches, a plurality of in substantially parallel planes into coperative relation with its group of punches, said plates having non-corresponding slots or cutaway portions Whereby each plate is adapted to engage some of the punches and to permit other punches to pass by other plates, Whereby the desiredselection of punches may be secured.

ln Witness Whereoi I hereunto subscribe my name thisl 11th day of April, A; D. 1905.

' ROBERT H. LITTLE.

Witnesses: I

G. L..CRAGG, B. H. LITTLE. 

